Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Amazon Studios is formalizing its commitment to the Latino community in Hollywood and beyond by partnering with Edward James Olmos Latino Film Institute, the Youth Cinema Project and local non-profit LA Collab, working together to strengthen the Hollywood pipeline.

As we strive to be a global entertainment destination, we acknowledge the power and importance of Latino audiences. In order to tell their rich and dynamic stories authentically, we need their skills and creative power both in front of and behind the camera, stated Latasha Gillespie, global head of DEIA for Amazon Studios, Freevee and IMDb, in a press release announcing the news. Partnering with LFI and LA Collab is not a charitable endeavor, it is an equitable endeavor. It is our responsibility to remove barriers and open doors so everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

As such, Amazon Studios has signed on as the exclusive sponsor of its Youth Cinema Project (YCP) Alumni Program for the 2022-2023 school year. The program connects over 300 graduates from low income, under-resourced public schools to hands-on access and learning opportunities across the industry, including mentoring and assistance with college applications.The company will also fund the inaugural YCP Fellowship, which will provide 15 college-bound students with resources to make a high-quality short film, working as a team to strengthen their film school applications and scholarship opportunities. Their films will then screen at the 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF).

Amazon Studios also reaffirmed its commitment to LA Collab as the organization builds LTX Match, an AI-enabled platform that aims to combat the all-too common statement We cant find Latinos to work in entertainment by connecting Latino talent with jobs, mentorship, boards, capital and community across the Hollywood ecosystem.

Gillespie discussed the new and renewed partnerships at an exclusive event celebrating Latino heritage and culture held on Monday night at NeueHouse Hollywood on Monday night, where she was joined by community leaders like Olmos, founder of the Latino Film Institute (LFI); Gloria Caldern Kellett, showrunner of Prime Videos With Love; and Youth Cinema Projects executive director Erika Sabel Flores.

Latino Film Institute founder Edward James Olmos takes a selfie with a students family as Amazon Studies and LFI celebrate Latino heritage & culture at NeueHouse Hollywood on Oct. 3.Getty Images

Before the program began, Gillespie explained the motivation behind Amazon Studios efforts.

One of the things we try to pride ourselves in doing is the internal work, Gillespie told Variety. Its always easy to point the finger and say what that industry or Hollywood isnt doing, but its a harder thing to say, What are we not doing? Or not doing well enough?'

When the DEIA team looked at the data, they identified a gap in their progress with the Latino community, both in terms of the companys creative partnerships and its own internal network; these partnerships and initiatives were founded in order to fill that gap.

It was about an impatience and dissatisfaction with our progress in terms of Latin community. We were like, We have to do better,' Gillespie said. Thats what equity is about its understanding we have a lot of work to do in a lot of spaces, but some spaces need more immediate attention than others, and for us right now thats the Latin community. Not taking our foot off the gas for the other communities, but in addition to.

The new initiatives come as Amazon Studios DEIA team marks the one-year anniversary of their Inclusion Policy and Playbook, a guidepost in the companys effort to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in its productions and on its sets via clear directives, and aspirational goals that move us toward a more equitable future.

According to Gillespie, the company has been encouraged by the progress made in the first year of the playbook, despite a few humbling lessons learned along the way, as the team found its groove.

All in all, it renewed our faith and renewed our commitment that change can happen if you are intentional about it, and if you build structure, policies and systems to support it, she said, summarizing the main takeaway.

Gillespie also noted the anniversary in her remarks before the assembled crowd. We celebrate our progress humbly embrace lessons learned and reiterate our intention to hold ourselves to a higher bar, she said. Let me be clear, we did not publish our Inclusion and Policy Playbook because we have it all solved. Just the opposite. We did it to increase our accountability and build further transparency.

She continued: At Amazon, building partnerships is one of the most essential foundations for our success. We know that experience matters, relationships matter and partnering with experts, leaders and trusted voices in the Latin community matters.

[Pictured: With Love showrunner Gloria Caldern Kellett, LFI Founder Edward James Olmos, Youth Cinema Project executive director Erika Sabel Flores, Global Head of DEIA for Amazon Studios, Freevee and IMDb Latasha Gillespie]

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Amazon Studios Announces Latino Community Initiatives, Including the Inaugural Youth Cinema Project Fellowship - Variety

Written by Isheka N. Harrison

Entrepreneurial power couple Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes of Slutty Vegan and Big Daves Cheesesteaks fame are not strangers to using their creative and financial prowess to give back to the community. One of those initiatives aims to help Black men in a major way.

The Atlanta-based duo launched Square 1: The Liife Experience in June 2021 to provide 25,000 Black men between ages 18 and 45 with life insurance by Dec. 2023.

The duo offers the program through their philanthropic foundations The Pinky Cole Foundation and The David & Derrick Hayes Foundation. They have collaborated with Prudential Financial to offer the $50,000, 75-year-term life insurance policies.

The couple, who were recently engaged and share two children, said helping Black men prosper in turn helps Black families.

We established this campaign to create better lives for Black men and their families by providing life insurance and mental health treatment in underserved communities, Cole said in a statement. It is another way we are collectively using our platforms to pour into the communities in which we serve.

While growing up in West Philly, I witnessed people put together fish frys and create GoFundMe pages to pay for their loved ones funerals. I vowed to change othat narrative with this program, Hayes added. Now Im able to provide resources and benefits such as life insurance policies and mental health programs. I am sure we will bridge the wealth gap and strengthen the Black community with this campaign.

Each policy will cost $11.50 per month or $138 annually and the foundations will pick up the tab for recipients during the first year. Those insured through the Square 1 initiative will be responsible for paying for the policy themselves thereafter.

In addition to the age range, eligible participants must be residents of the state of Georgia, earn $30,000 or less annually and not use tobacco.

According to Mia Ferguson, executive director of Coles namesake foundation, the entire team has been working hard behind the scenes, planning and laying the groundwork to implement the program since the initiative was announced last year.

Because this insurance policy is so unique, we had to get the director of insurance on the state level to approve it, Ferguson told Moguldom Nation in an exclusive interview. It wasnt just an idea we could implement theres a lot of legalities involved.

Ferguson also noted that the Square 1 policy is the first to waive specific requirements for policyholders, including exclusion due to certain pre-existing conditions. She acknowledged how much teamwork it took to get to their current point and said they have a great relationship with Prudential.

Literally, Prudential was so open to the idea that they worked with us to come up with something that was affordable, something that was sustainable, Ferguson said. Prudential literally built this policy to support our goals in the best way they could which was getting that policy, at that price, at that term. Its unheard of.

It is a sentiment shared by Shan Harris, vice president of social responsibility and partnerships and president of The Prudential Foundation.

Our support of Square 1 builds on our history of creating more equitable routes to financial security. We love that Square 1 is intentional in their support of Black men, who have been disproportionately excluded from opportunities to access to a more secure financial future. Prudential wants to be a trusted partner in that journey, Harris said.

When it comes to marketing and outreach to the target audience for Square 1, Ferguson said they are being very intentional to ensure their true intent is clearly understood.

How do we hold onto them? How do we love on them? How do we get them to trust us? How do we get our people to see that we are here for us? Ferguson asked. This cannot be, this will not be one of those things where they think were just doing it for kudos and limelight.

Its not until you know the heart behind the people who are working here you understand that it really is about community, Ferguson continued. It really is about building block by block, heart by heart and soul by soul were in this for the long run.

Harris added she is excited about what Prudential will learn through the Square 1 initiative.

Working with Square 1 allows us to listen and learn from participants in the program about what is most important to them as they build their own financial legacy, Harris said. We know building trust takes time, and we are committed to doing the long-term work required to build on our experiences to connect with Black men in an authentic way.

The Back Room event underway in Atlanta, Ga. for Square 1: The Liife Experience (Square 1), a joint initiative from the Pinky Cole Foundation and The David & Derrick Hayes Foundation.Though Cole and Hayes rising star power was used to help launch the initiative, Ferguson said the duo has made it clear it is not about them.

They are two very humble individuals who really use their voice to be able to encourage and help people, Ferguson said.

In addition to the financial benefits that come along with having life insurance, Square 1 offers mental health and financial literacy services to participants. They are also looking to expand their wraparound services as they further assess the communitys needs.

Its not just life insurance, its transitioning into another way of thinking, another way of life, exposing to some people things they have never seen before, Ferguson said. Its literally about building of community through financial wellness and literacy, and it just so happens to be from the lens of a life insurance policy, mental health support and yoga that come with it. Its like that mind, body, soul life just from a different perspective.

Marcus Mitchell is one of the men who has already obtained a policy through Square 1. He discussed the impact getting life insurance has had on him. It feels good to take a step towards securing my family financially, Mitchell said.

While the program is currently only open to Georgia residents, Ferguson said they envision Square 1 becoming a national program.

I told Pinky last year this will be a national program. This will be as big as Susan G. Komen, but the outcome is us helping our men, Ferguson said. Were helping our men and were helping our kids and by this time next year well be helping our mothers; and guess what that is, thats helping our families.

Its time we begin to see how investing in your future now can yield benefits before you die. Weve gotta stop the fish frys and the dinners to bury our family members, Ferguson concluded. Its a blessing to be a part of this initiative and watch it go from thought to fruition. It is exciting.

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Inside Derrick Hayes and Pinky Coles Goal to Sign Up 25,000 Black Men For Life Insurance, Pay 1st Year of Coverage - tntribune.com

Constellation Brands, Inc.

Company to Divest a Portion of its Mainstream and Premium Wine Brands to The Wine Group

VICTOR, N.Y. and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that it has reached an agreement with The Wine Group to divest a portion of its mainstream and premium wine portfolio, including Cooper & Thief, Crafters Union, The Dreaming Tree, Monkey Bay, 7 Moons, and Charles Smith Wines. This transaction is expected to close later today.

This decision builds on the companys efforts to establish a bold and innovative, higher-end wine and spirits portfolio with distinctive brands and products, delivering exceptional consumer experiences. Constellation divested the majority of its popular and mainstream wine and spirits portfolio in 2021 and is focused on competing predominantly in premium and fine wine and craft spirits segments, while continuing to invest in the growth of its remaining strategic mainstream wine and spirits assets.

A key driver of our success has been our relentless focus on consumer preferences, including long-term consumer-led premiumization trends, and remaining agile in our approach to stay ahead of evolving marketplace dynamics, said Robert Hanson, EVP & President, wine and spirits division. Over the past three years, we reshaped ourselves into a higher-end wine and spirits division with intentional, strategic mainstream plays and are moving our business towards becoming a leading global Premium/Fine Wine & Craft Spirits portfolio. This transaction will enable us to focus and shift our portfolio towards the higher end, positioning ourselves to continue delivering industry-leading growth and shareholder value with the right portfolio for our ambitions. In turn, The Wine Group is acquiring great brands that complement its current strategy of continuing to build a premium wine portfolio.

Constellations remaining wine and spirits portfolio contains a more focused set of leading, powerful brands aligned with consumer preferences, spanning mainstream, premium, fine wine and craft spirits segments, including Meiomi, Kim Crawford, The Prisoner Wine Company, The Robert Mondavi family of brands, High West Whiskey, Casa Noble Tequila, Schrader Cellars, Double Diamond, To Kalon Vineyard Company, SIMI, MyFavorite Neighbor portfolio of brands, Lingua Franca, Nelsons Green Brier and others.

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Additional commentary related to this transaction will be provided during Constellations second quarter fiscal 2023 financial results conference call to be held today, Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The conference call can be accessed by dialing +1-877-407-9121 and entering conference identification number 13732540, beginning at 10:20 a.m. EDT. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available on the companys investor relations website at ir.cbrands.com under the News & Events section.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The word expect and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements may relate to business strategy, future operations, prospects and plans, and objectives of management, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur or will occur on the timetable contemplated hereby. No assurances can be given that the transaction between Constellation Brands and The Wine Group will occur or will occur on the contemplated terms or timetable. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Constellation Brands undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to risks and uncertainties associated with ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including completion of the announced transaction; the accuracy of all projections; and other factors and uncertainties disclosed from time-to-time in Constellation Brands filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2022, and its Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended from time to time, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDSAt Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe sharing a toast, unwinding after a day, celebrating milestones, and helping people connect, are Worth Reaching For. Its worth our dedication, hard work, and the bold calculated risks we take to deliver more for our consumers, trade partners, shareholders, and communities in which we live and work. Its what has made us one of the fastest-growing large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver whats next.

Today, we are a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and Pacifico, and our fine wine and craft spirits brands, including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey, and our premium wine brands such as Meiomi and Kim Crawford.

But we wont stop here. Our visionary leadership team and passionate employees from barrel room to boardroom are reaching for the next level, to explore the boundaries of the beverage alcohol industry and beyond. Join us in discovering whats Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, visit http://www.cbrands.comand follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A downloadable PDF copy of this news release can be found herehttp://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2ed66a87-7699-4327-be76-8377195af892

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Constellation Brands Further Refines Wine and Spirits Portfolio as Part of Ongoing Efforts to Inflect Business Toward the Higher-End - Yahoo Finance

A torrent of students cram through the hallway near the north entrance of the Student Center, the din of conversation nearly drowning out the generic pop music sounding from the speakers above. Nearby, poised to take full advantage of the lunch rush, sit a handful of people with laptops, forms, QR codes and candy. They cheerfully greet the hurried Salukis one group at a time:

Hey ladies, are you registered to vote?

Every now and then, they manage to break students away from the herd, deftly guiding them through websites or paperwork. In less than a few minutes, a brand new Illinois voter is on the books.

Thanks to the efforts of the College Democrats RSO as well as the student and Carbondale branches of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), an estimated 100 to 150 students registered to vote on Tuesday. College Democrats president Vivian Walker helped lead the voter drive which took place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with student and community volunteers working nonstop to make a difference.

So many people come up to the table because they just have questions about, you know, I did this but Im not sure if I can vote here or there. They just have questions that its hard to find that information and being able to just have someone they can walk up to and ask that question to is, I think, really helpful. Thats probably more of what were doing today, Walker said.

As Nov. 8 and the midterm elections approach, there couldnt be a better time for students to get involved in politics. Despite recent increases, SIUs student voter participation statistics from previous years certainly show room for improvement. The National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement, is a study dedicated to increasing student and school engagement in politics. Its numbers show SIU Edwardsvilles total voting rate was 37.3% in 2018, 1.8% lower than the national average. The Daily Egyptian tried to acquire voter registration data for SIU Carbondale, but the administration did not release the information in time for publication.

I feel like so many people are discouraged about it and I wanna be able to get out there and show young people that this is a really important part of the world that we live in, Walker said. Casting your vote it changes things. I feel a lot of people are really disillusioned now by politics and its really discouraging. Especially politicians seem to have lost their professionalism now. That doesnt appeal to very many people. They want to be able to vote for people that they can look up to.

Last week, Chip Markels campaign manager reached out to the College Democrats directly to ask them to participate in his campaign. This election cycle brings lots of challenges for Democrats like Markel, who is not only running against a Republican incumbent Mike Bost, but doing so in a historically red Southern Illinois.

Still, the importance of Carbondale as an oasis of blue isnt to be underestimated. Some of the biggest issues of the century are up for debate in congress currently. The midterm elections also include the race for the governorship in Illinois

As a woman following the summers events of Roe v. Wade I think its especially important to be registered to vote now, I think it [the voter registration drive] helps a lot with community outreach and making sure everyones voices are heard, said Natalie Rossi, a volunteer at the event.

Elections are also coming up on the tail end of the largest Federal student debt relief effort in recent years, Bidens partial student loan forgiveness plan, with bills such as the Income-Driven Student Loan Forgiveness Act in the works to forgive even more debt.

Still, many students remain indifferent or even unaware of elections. Walker says there were many students that needed convincing.

I said, oh, well, we can register you right now. And she goes, Why should I vote? And just looked at me and was like, Why would I do that? You know, like, whats the point? And she wasnt the only one to ask questions along those lines, but that was the most point blank. Like, tell me why I should. And to be honest, people ask that question because they genuinely want an answer. They want to know whats on whats important about the ballot, why should I get out there and cast my vote? And we have different answers for different people.

As is especially obvious watching the majority of students pass the voting registration tables by, students lives are busy, and not just in the sense that theyve got friends to have lunch with, and classes to go to. A surprising number of students are actually already registered to vote, 74.7% as of 2018, in fact. 74.7 % of students at SIU Edwardsville were registered to vote, but less than half of those registered actually voted in 2018. Even that figure is a dramatic increase from 2014, when only 24% of registered student voters cast a ballot. Could it be that students are so alienated by the implacable movements of federal politics that they think their votes make no difference? Or are there other, more sinister reasons?

Rossi thinks students reluctance isnt entirely self inflicted.

I think its systemic, I think theres a lot of barriers to voting, especially in minority communities, whether its polling places that are really isolated from towns and districts or really long lines or, you know, state specific laws that kind of bar voting whether thats voter ID laws or anything like that, she said. I think that its a systemic thing and I think that its intentional.

Recent increases in voter turnout are actually because young people and minorities are becoming more represented in politics by figures such as Rep..Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), Rossi said.

According to SIU NAACP Vice President Jeremiah Denham, what students need is leadership and a chance to express themselves freely.

As a community we need to know what is right and what is wrong, so for us to have the opportunity to vote we didnt have the right to vote at first so I think it is a big change and I think more colored people are coming out of their shell because they want to make a change and a change needs to happen, he said. Im glad to say Im a part of an organization that can push that change out to happen because it needs to happen.

When it comes to voting, students need roots and they need the ability to express themselves. Everything that a person needs to engage in a healthy democracy can start right here at SIU, where communities like the College Democrats, the NAACP, and the Paul Simon Public Policy institute work tirelessly to provide students with a voice and a community to grow it in.

When its time to vote, I feel like professors should be saying it, TAs, students that know about voting should be saying it to one another, restaurants should, everywhere around that you can go people should be encouraged that they have a right to vote, Denham said.

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Students work to get their peers registered to vote - Daily Egyptian

Jason Smith

America has faced crisis after crisis ever since Washington Democrats took control of the White House and Congress. Families are struggling with the highest consumer prices in 40 years, our communities are plagued with violent crime and deadly illegal drugs, and our freedoms are under attack like never before. In other words, one-party Democrat rule of Washington has been a complete disaster for families. But although these are troubling times for America, a tremendous opportunity lies ahead for new leadership and a new vision for our country. We are making this our Commitment to America.

What Americans want more than anything else is an economy thats strong. Thats why Republicans will use every tool at our disposal to bring an end to Washington Democrats reckless spending spree, which has cost taxpayers $10 trillion and driven consumer prices to the highest theyve been in four decades. Republicans will fight to lower gas prices and utility costs by restoring Americas energy independence. And well strengthen our food, energy, and medical security by fixing our broken supply chain and ending our reliance on China.

Republicans will fight to stop the violent crime thats plaguing our communities. The Lefts reckless push to defund the police and their soft-on-crime agenda has led to deadly consequences: in 2021, both the murder rate and the number of intentional killings of law enforcement reached the highest levels in 20 years. To make our communities safer, well support 200,000 new law enforcement officers through hiring bonuses, crack down on woke prosecutors who let violent criminals run free, and stem the flow of dangerous illicit drugs like fentanyl.

Its no secret that the chaos on the border created by the Lefts open border policies is contributing to the violent crime wave. Republicans are committed to making sure border patrol agents and law enforcement agencies have the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs and regain control of our southern border. Washington Democrats doubling of the number of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents means the agency will have 8 times as many staff as there are border agents. Thats completely flipped from how our nations priorities should be.

Over the last two years, the Left has worked around the clock to expand government command and control over all aspects of society, including our childrens education. During the pandemic, millions of students were denied the education they need because power-hungry mayors, governors, and bureaucrats shut down schools for political purposes. In addition, liberal teachers and schoolboards are using classrooms as a tool to indoctrinate children with their woke agenda. Republicans will put parents and students first. Well work to provide real transparency and accountability, and help recover learning loss from school closures.

Americans are fed up with Washington Democrats using the power of the federal government to reward their liberal allies and punish those who hold different beliefs, especially rural Americans, gun owners, and even parents concerned with wokeness in schools. Thats why one of our top priorities will be ensuring we have a government that works for not against the American people.

A glaring failure of the Liberals running Congress is their willingness to let Washington bureaucracy run free from any oversight or interference. Republicans will use Congresss subpoena power the tool we need to conduct rigorous oversight of this administration. Whether its President Bidens Department of Justice labeling parents as domestic terrorists, the IRS leaking highly-sensitive taxpayer information for political purposes, or Hunter Bidens shady business dealings, we need to hold hearings to get Americans the answers they deserve.

Speaking of the IRS, the very first piece of legislation Republicans will send to the Senate will be a bill to block the agency from hiring 87,000 new agents to target and harass middle- and low-income Americans.

We cannot afford to waste any time undoing the significant damage caused by one-party Democrat rule of Washington. Well immediately get to work on delivering Americans an economy thats strong, a nation thats safe, a future thats built on freedom, and a government thats accountable.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith is the areas state representative for the 8th Congressional District.

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The Commitment to America: A New Vision for Our Country - Wayne County Journal Banner

MIDDLETOWN, NJ There is a school board election in Middletown every year, and voting for the BOE race will take place the same day as the midterms, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

There are three seats open on the Middletown school board in 2022. Six candidates have filed to run.

Patch asked all the candidates to send us a photo, a brief biography of themselves and why they are running. We also asked them the following:

1. Sex education was a big topic in New Jersey schools this past year. What do you think of the new health curriculum mandated by the state? How would you respond to parents who say they are concerned with some of the topics? I.e. discussing masturbation, gender identity with elementary school students. Do you think these are appropriate topics for elementary students?

2. What are your thoughts on critical race theory? Do you think it should be taught in schools? What do you think of some NJ lawmakers, such as former Middletown mayor and now Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, suggesting to ban CRT from schools?

Here are the six candidates and their answers:

Lauren Anderson: Anderson ran unsuccessfully in 2021 for Middletown school board as a write-in candidate. "Im a lifelong Middletown resident and former K-12 Middletown Township Public Schools student. Im now 36 years old and raising my children with my husband just a few miles from the home I grew up in. My mom has been a district teacher for 24 years. I care deeply for my community and the future of our schools and our students, and I want to take an active role in making sure Middletown remains a paradigm of public school education for many years to come. I earned a BA in business administration from Brookdale Community College and spent many years working in various industries throughout my high school and college careers. My years in retail and service positions have given me ample opportunity to learn to quickly identify problems and work with my team and/or the customer to make compromises and find solutions."

Im running for the board because the education my two children will receive in this district over the next eighteen years is of paramount importance to me. I want their learning environment to feel safe and secure for them and I want the culture of the district to be warm and welcoming to everyone. I want to eliminate partisan politics that distract from real issues and get back to whats important. I want to work with the administration, teachers and parents to address bullying in our schools. I want to make sure we are not only fostering an environment of respect, kindness and acceptance but that we, as adults in the community, are modeling that behavior in practice.

I want to take a closer look at alternative sources of funding. We need to tap every available resource so we can make sure we can provide our students with all the teachers, counselors, specialists, programs and equipment they need to stay engaged and be successful in their educational careers. I also want to figure out if and how we can improve our districts proficiency scores. While our scores are better than the state average, we are still only scoring at 53 percent in math and 65 percent in reading as per Public School Review. I believe we can do better in preparing our students for the next steps of their lives and I will work to make sure we are doing everything we can to make that happen.

1. State-mandated curricula are outside of the purview of our local board of education. Once a curriculum is mandated to be taught as part of the public school education, its my understanding that the board is obligated to adhere to those standards so my personal opinions, or those of other board members, should be irrelevant. I can empathize with parents who may feel more sensitive about particular topics and I support their right to opt their children out of those lessons in the health curriculum which they find offensive. Parents should also be clear that our current opt-in policy for the health curriculum, as I understood from the curriculum information sessions provided this summer, that if you respond and choose to opt-out of some or all topics, that will be noted and your child will be given alternative instruction but failure to respond to the forms or administrations attempts to reach you will result in the student being instructed in all topics.

2. Critical Race Theory is not currently taught in primary or secondary schools in New Jersey and, to my knowledge, there are no lawmakers who have introduced any legislation attempting to make it part of the primary or secondary curriculum. As with the health standards, any curriculum that is state mandated is out of the purview of the local boards of education and so the opinions of board members are irrelevant. I would suggest to any parents who feel strongly about critical race theory one way or another reach out to their state representatives to share their feelings.

John Little: I am seeking re-election to the Middletown Township Board of Education in November. The Middletown Township Public School District is not only great in maintaining high standards but has made many improvements over the years. I am running to be an active part in keeping the district strong and to assist in addressing the challenges we face.

I want to be part of the districts continuing work to improve its approach to mental health, find ways to expand resources,and make it easier for students and parents to access those resources to find help. Bullying is a topic that needs further discussion between the District and the community. We as a District need to make sure we provide consistent education and support across the entire District, as well as address areas where proficiency is not where it should be post COVID.

Continue to expand our goal of inclusion and continue to enhance and coordinate tiered intervention and special education support. Have more active discussions with parents regarding curriculum offerings that are now accessible through the Districts website. Continue our focus on security and safety. Bring it all together into a competent, responsible budget that addresses reductions in aid from the State of New Jersey. Most of all, continue to not only hear, but listen to and respect all of our students, parents,taxpayers, and staff in the Middletown community to keep the School District strong.

I am married and have children who currently attend Middletown Township Public Schools. I grew up in Middletown and went through the public school system from elementary school through high school. I graduated second in my class at Middletown High School South where I was also captain of the football team, member of the National Honor Society, and voted Most Likely to Succeed. I attended the University of Notre Dame where I graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration Accounting. I am a certified public accountant and have worked in finance for large financial institutions for almost 30 years. I am currently a member of the Middletown Board of Education and am very active in the community. I am on various Board of Education committees including Student Services/Special Education (Chair), Curriculum and Instruction, Facilities & Finance, Co-Curricular & Technology, Safety, and one of the liaisons to the Middletown Municipal Alliance. Prior to being a member on the Board of Education, I was a PIC (Parent Information Committee) representative.

1. The Health curriculum has been discussed by the Board of Education and with the community for about two years, including a significant amount of discussion over the last few months with the District hosting two well-publicized forums explaining the curriculum and the Districts opt-in process. The curriculum is accessible through the District website and has resulted in some excellent conversations with parents.

2. The article that I was e-mailed from the Patch regarding CRT was a year old. That curriculum/instruction does not exist in Middletown.

Gary Tulp, Joe Fitzgerald and Leonora Caminiti: Caminiti will seek re-election to the Board, joined by Tulp and Fitzgerald, both seeking to be elected to the Board for the first time.

They wrote:

The 'Middletown Families First' team is united by a shared vision of how the Board of Education can best support the community it serves. That vision is premised on prioritizing academic and developmental success, carefully scrutinizing all expenditures to maximize efficiency and achievement, and delivering opportunities, transparency and choice to the families the Board represents. Beyond our shared beliefs, we each contribute to our team with our own unique skills, experiences and motivations for running.

Gary Tulp is the dad of two daughters at River Plaza Elementary, where he never misses an opportunity to volunteer his time at school activities and PFA events. Tulp is also a lawyer with extensive experience representing large organizations, managing massive budgets, and analyzing complex legal authorities to protect his clients interests. With roots as the son of a retired high school teacher and a retired school bus driver, and the brother of an elementary school principal, Tulp knows that talented and supported public school professionals are families greatest partners in preparing their children for success. Tulp believes that his attendance and engagement at almost every Middletown Board of Education meeting since 2020 listening, learning and speaking along with his legal and business background, makes him especially well-suited for the hard work of developing the best curricula, programs, mental health resources and facilities possible for Middletowns students.

Joe Fitzgerald is the father of three young children and a United States Marine veteran. He is also an entrepreneur who founded multiple successful technology businesses based in Red Bank but with operations around the world.

Witnessing his oldest daughter thrive in her special-education program at New Monmouth Elementary inspired Fitzgerald to learn more about the ways he could help all Middletown students have a positive school experience. Accordingly, Fitzgerald started attending Board of Education meetings earlier this year to build his knowledge of the districts operations and the interplay between the Board and the Administration. That experience, in turn, inspired Fitzgerald to run for his own seat at the table. He is particularly excited about employing his leadership skills, military discipline, and business acumen to improve our districts facilities and infrastructure and maximize the districts financial health.

Leonora Caminiti is the mother of three Eagle Scout sons who each grew up in Middletowns schools. Caminiti is also a successful local businesswoman, having spent the past 26 years building her Monmouth County real estate business, and has donated countless hours serving as a PFA President and volunteering for such organizations as the Great Race Steering Committee, Project Prom, Municipal Alliance and the Middletown Arts Center.

In addition, Caminiti is especially proud of her 18 years of service on the Middletown Board of Education. Caminitis many achievements on the Board include bringing full-day kindergarten to Middletown, saving the district nearly $3 million by switching to a self-insurance program and advocating for additional guidance counselors, air conditioning in our buildings, curriculum advancements and security enhancements. Caminiti seeks reelection this year in hopes of continuing to serve the community she loves.

1. A state-wide mandate that educators have to discuss such sensitive subjects with young children rests on the flawed assumption that parents are not up to the task and the equally erroneous assumption that teachers and staff are comfortable doing so. Some of these topics, as you noted in your question, consist of mature subject matter that is either not developmentally appropriate for the grades in which the state would like them introduced, or, in many families view, not appropriate for public school at any level. Having attended our Administrations information sessions in August and spoken about this with so many parents there and elsewhere in recent months, those interactions reinforced the importance of strong Board members who are prepared to vet all curricula and resources, champion transparency and choice for families, encourage and value input from our teachers and staff and refuse to rubber-stamp resources that the state might hand down. We believe Middletowns parents and guardians are up to the tasks of not only discussing sensitive topics with their children, but also choosing the right time to do so and whether or not to complement at-home discussions with any district offerings.

2. In our view, any theory that treats a child as incapable of achieving success or inherently predisposed to hate or any negative behavior is unfair. And implementing such a theory in any curriculum would be a misuse of already stretched-thin district resources that would be better spent on programs devoted to improving mental health, developing self-confidence, and amplifying a positive school culture. It also would be counterproductive to the important work of teaching all our children what it means to be a good person and a productive citizen. All students should be allowed to learn and grow without being declared good or bad based on characteristics like race or gender. Curricula teaching otherwise would only create, not eliminate, prejudice and division.

Kristie Tapolow: I am running for the Middletown Board of Education because I am personally invested in maintaining, nurturing and increasing the quality of our school system. I am passionate and committed to our children and our community and want to make enhancements that ensure each and every one of our children has the opportunity for an unencumbered future of limitless possibility.

I am a lifelong Middletown resident; I have now built a beautiful life here with my husband, Daniel, and my children, Hudson and Harper. For 15 years I have worked in the Middletown Township School District as a social worker, applying the valuable lessons I learned in Middletown schools to support students academic and social success.

I believe my time serving the district has provided me valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of how schools work. Moreover, I have been an active member on district-wide committees, so not only do I understand how individual schools operate, I understand how those schools form a foundation for community and district-wide growth. Furthermore, I have developed an expansive network of resources and connections. As such, my prior experience will allow me to bring something unique to the board of education, and I am confident that my extensive experience in education, social work, mental health and volunteerism has given me a deep and invaluable understanding of what children, families and communities need to thrive what THIS community needs to thrive.

Working in Middletown has taught me that collaboration with the students, their families and the MTPS staff is key. We are all here to create successful learners. I vow to listen carefully to all community input and to work tirelessly to identify issues, create viable solutions, and bridge divides. I believe all of this can be accomplished while keeping the fiscal health of the district and its taxpayers in mind.

I am solution oriented and trained in the art and science of active listening, of helping, and in collaboration and compromise. As a social worker, I have developed relationships across the city and state at all levels, relationships that can help this community. Ultimately, the challenges Middletown faces are nothing compared to the strength it has within itself to overcome them.

Important Issues

The divide that is felt at multiple levels of society is also felt at the district level. As the largest district in Monmouth County, Middletown stands alone, beset with unique challenges due to a population of many strong voices. From Leonardo to Lincroft, Middletown also contains a variety of geographic pockets, each with their own needs and obstacles. Although they differ in many important ways, these voices each cry out for novel solutions to problems that plague our district. By looking at the needs of individual schools I can better understand what common challenges are district wide & use the information to create a multifaceted and individualized response. I can use my skills as a social worker to listen to all sides and work towards collaboration and compromise.

Right now, the children of this district are facing a mental health crisis. This is not unique to Middletown but we can be unique in our response. We know that our children have been impacted by the pandemic, but the reality is that many children were struggling even before COVID. From my experience and training I have an understanding of how to support mental health needs from the individual all the way to community level.

I believe an inclusive community is crucial for children's success. We need to see students as individuals and figure out what they need to be successful. We need to build our capacity to meet their various needs through a balance of strong academics, strong social emotional learning, and by creating a community culture. Each child needs to be given the tools to become successful at their school, in their homes, and for their futures. Feeling safe and ensuring all their needs are being met is what will allow them to be available to learn in school.

1. The health curriculum at the center of recent controversy was proposed in 2019, so it is not new. Even older than that is the political misunderstanding between lawmakers who write policy in theory, and the teachers and parents who have to put these ideas into practice.

To that end, I believe MTPS has handled this situation correctly by being intentional and above board, communicative and proactive. Middletown has partnered with the community, the District and the BOE listened to parents concerns, digested that feedback, and worked with the Curriculum Committee to evaluate the learning standards at each grade level. It is important we continue to do so, and further assess the available materials to ensure that what is being taught is appropriate for each age/level.

The district placed the proposed curriculum on its website for easy access, sent notifications to all parents, and held curriculum presentations that were recorded for later viewing. All of this helped eliminate confusion and allowed parents to hear firsthand what the district is doing.

The district even went the extra mile to now allow parents to opt in to certain lessons based on their comfort level. I also believe the districts website could be used more effectively as a hub to share information in real time. It certainly needs to be updated for easier navigation and could be a more powerful resource for parents and students.

2. Critical race theory is not currently being taught in Middletown. Looking at the district's curriculum, the teaching of race theory is not in line with the scope and sequence of learning at either the elementary or secondary levels. Moving forward, I think we could address CRT similarly to how MTPS have handled proposed changes to the health and sex education curricula with open discussions between the schools and the community. This would help to ensure all parties have a say and are comfortable.

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Meet The 2022 Middletown School Board Candidates - Patch

Visibility Through Art is a community art initiative produced annually as part of CHIRPs Arts and Culture Program. Visibility Through Art is an intentional and informed collaboration between local artists and members of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. Each project year explores a theme or subject of importance to the Tribe, culminating in an annual exhibit. This year, artists and Tribal Members were asked to center around the theme of Erasure. We are invited to consider: the impact of settler colonialism through the generations, of the gold rush, the boarding schools, of the laws and systems that erased and continue to eradicate Nisenan heritage and identity. Art opens the way for meaningful conversations around topics that are not always easy to have and sometimes can reveal solutions that may otherwise remain unseen.

Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts & Culture is a new gallery space in downtown Nevada City. The gallery project falls under CHIRPs Art and Culture Program and is yet another way to bring visibility to the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe while fulfilling CHIRPs mission: to preserve, protect, and perpetuate Nisenan Culture. Uba Seo is another step toward the restoration of the Tribes Federal Recognition. Since opening its doors in the Spring of 2021, Uba Seo has created rich opportunities for visibility, advocacy, healing, and community education. The Uba Seo Gallery creates an unprecedented social space curated through Nisenan perspectives and voices.

This art event was created to engage our community in conversation about this land and the Nisenan People. It also serves to raise the Tribes visibility. Shelly Covert, a Nisenan Tribal member who sits on the Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council, is the Spokesperson for her Tribe, and the Executive Director of CHIRP stated, The goal is to create conscientious art pieces that inspire dialogue about Nisenan history and culture. We were looking for a way to tell our collective story and this seems to be working. Art is an incredible platform to engage in difficult dialogue. And collaborating with local artists has not only been a pleasure, but it is helping us achieve our goals. Our deepest hope is to bring about awareness of local historic and current issues through the medium of art. The one-of-a-kind pieces created annually during this project have become the main body of CHIRPs expanding art collection.

Participating Tribal Member Artists: Shelly Covert, Ginger Covert, Lorena Davis, Sarah Thomas, Cindy Buero, Debra McBrien, Saxon Thomas, Natalie Thomas, Saxon Jr. Thomas, Colin Thomas, Karen McCluskey, Jennifer Plunkett, Britteny DePew, Eddy Quinn

Participating Artists: Andrs Amador, Fabienne Annick, Amanda Ashely, Nikila Badua, Maile Claire, Mira Clark, Sarah Coleman, Jennifer Crosby, Rama Cryer, Indigo Donaldson, Juli Elin, Brianna French, Jessa Hurst, Lori Lachman, Mekdela Maskal, Hannah McDonell, Bishop Randall, R. Rehrer, Rachel Rein, Saree Robinson, Alyssa Walz, Leilani Webb, Ursula X. Young, and Chloe Young

The Nisenan are the Indigenous People who were here thousands of years before the gold rush. Despite the destruction of their homelands, broken Treaties, and forced assimilation, they remain here in their homelands today and strive to have their identity reflected in the fabric of the community. Federal Recognition: Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order in 1913 that gave Federal Recognition to the Nisenan and the Nevada City Rancheria preserved 76 acres of land in trust as an Indian Reservation. In 1964 the Nevada City Rancheria was one of forty-four California Rancherias wrongfully terminated by Congress and today is one of three California Rancherias awaiting restoration. True and correct knowledge of the Nisenan and their ancient existence on this land, up until very recently, had been fully erased from history and the Tribe was nearly forgotten. The need for visibility as the Tribe fights to have their Federal Recognition and sovereignty restored has begun to turn the tide of historic amnesia. Creation of our non-profit organization: Up until very recently, most of that education and change has had to be shouldered by the Tribe itself. Thus, the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project, aka CHIRP, was created to assist the Tribe in areas of Federal Recognition, Education, Art, Cultural Resource Protection, Land Back, Community Education and Communications, Media, and Fundraising, and more. CHIRPs mission serves the needs of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, guides and informs right relations with Indigenous communities, and stabilizes Nisenan Culture and community, all while bringing education and connection to the public through its charitable purposes. CHIRPs 501c3 status brings opportunities that as a terminated Tribe, the Nevada City Rancheria does not have.

Source: CHIRP

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California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project to presents 6th Annual Visibility Through Art Exhibition - The Union

Charlotte, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Girls on the Run International, a nonprofit that empowers young girls, announced that Stanford University graduate and WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike will join its leadership team. Ogwumike (pronounced Ah-gwoo-ma-kay) plays for the Los Angeles Sparks and serves as the president of the Women's National Basketball Players Association. Now she will combine her star power from on and off the court to serve Girls on the Run International as a member of the board of directors starting October 1, 2022.

At 6 feet 2 inches, girls literally and figuratively look up to Nneka. She is a tremendous role model and embodies so many of the things we reinforce in our curriculum: leadership, teamwork, resilience and confidence, said Elizabeth Kunz, CEO of Girls on the Run International. She has done so much for our organization over the years, and she brings both her head and heart to our mission. Now our board, our entire organization and the hundreds of thousands of girls we serve every year will benefit from her perspective and leadership.

Ogwumike has already been generously supporting Girls on the Run (GOTR) for three years. In 2019, she cheered on participants at end-of-season 5K events for the Girls on the Run councils in Charlotte, N.C., and Los Angeles. When the world was sidelined early in the pandemic, she created a GOTR at Home video during the spring 2020 season. In 2021, she helped garner a $50,000 donation from Pepsi for GOTR Los Angeles and also participated as a panelist at GOTRs 25th Birthday event which raised more than $250,000.

I'm incredibly honored to join the Girls on the Run board of directors. I do what I do today thanks to role models before me - role models who looked like me, and opened my mind and heart to the many possibilities to be phenomenal. I hope in my own way as an athlete and an advocate, Im able to serve as a role model for young aspirers also looking to see, relate and ultimately be empowered to be great, said Ogwumike.

Ogwumike graduated from Stanford University in 2012 and was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft that year. She just finished her tenth season as a power forward with the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2016, she led the Sparks to the WNBA championship and was named the 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player. Ogwumike was elected president of the WNBA Players Association in 2016 and was re-elected to a new three-year term in 2019. In 2021, the WNBA's 25th season, she was named to The W25 as one of the top 25 players in league history.

Her success both on and off the court make her a fantastic team and board member. Sports help develop leadership skills such as team building, decision-making, communication and discipline, among others. According to research, 54% of girls report increased leadership skills as one of the top benefits of playing sports. For example, one 2013 survey that studied 821 top female executives found that 90% of them had played sports at some level while growing up. That percentage grew to 96% if the women were now CEOs.

Girls on the Run helps girls grow in confidence and become leaders just like Nneka Ogwumike. Its programs have a proven impact with 97% of participants saying they learned critical life skills from the research-based curriculum. From increased physical activity to character development, GOTR girls experience life-changing positive effects.

Ogwumike added, There is no box that is big enough to contain the potential of these girls. I wan them to realize remember that is what is going to get to where you want to go. Opening more doors for the next generations of active girls.

About Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run International (GOTRI) designs programming that strengthens third- to eighthgrade girls social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. Each year, more than 200,000 girls ages eight to 13 participate in communities in the United States and Canada. More than 2 million girls have participated in the program since it launched in 1996. The curriculum reaches girls at a critical stage, strengthening their confidence at a time when society begins to tell them they cant. Underscoring the important connection between physical and emotional health, the program addresses the whole girl when she needs it the most. Results show GOTRI programs inspire and empower girls to build healthy physical and mental habits that last long beyond the program. According to a longitudinal study conducted by The University of Minnesota, 97% of Girls on the Run participants said they learn critical life skills including resolving conflict, helping others or making intentional decisions; and 94% of parents reported it was a valuable experience for their girl. To learn more about this international nonprofit, visit http://www.girlsontherun.org

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WNBA Star Nneka Ogwumike Joins the Board of Girls on the Run International - GlobeNewswire

Kit Ingui, Jacob G. Padrn.

Across the United States, regional theatres have a great responsibility to our communities.

We are creative incubators, civic institutions, educational hubs, gathering places, artistic playgrounds, safe havens, and much more.

But among all of these important roles theatres have played, many of us have missed the most crucial point along the way: We have failed to reach all peoplesometimes through our very design, location, or programmatic choices.

Why should amazing, transformative theatre be confined to just one space or location? Great theatre can be everywherefor everyone.

If regional theatres are truly going to live up to the immense responsibility of being pillars of our communities, and being a public good (a designation as a 501c3), we must rethink our models so that everyone has access to the work we make. We must build deep, authentic, reciprocal relationships with all who call the theatre their artistic home.

In New Haven, thats what were trying to manifest with Long Wharf Theatres path forward.

Earlier this year, we came to a decision that was years in the making: to leave our current home of 57 years and venture out across our city and region as an itinerant theatre company that will partner with local organizations and venues to bring productions closer to all people.

While we made this decision in part because we recognized the need to rethink our business model amid a shift of revenue and the pandemics impacts, we more importantly made it because we felt a significant portion of our community was being left out.

Long Wharf Theatre is currently located in a food terminal in an industrial part of New Haven, away from transit and in the outskirts of the city.

As we just announced our new 2022-23 seasonthe first to begin the transition to our new modelweve already felt the change in energy as we explore our citys neighborhoods and invite audiences and community members to participate.

We made our season announcement in Dixwell, a neighborhood with deep ties to jazz music, that for decades has received an inequitable lack of investment.

Now, with this model, artists will have the autonomy to curate their own venue or location in the city that speaks most authentically to themes or subject matter of their work. We now ask artists: Whats the right container for the story you want to tell?

A concert reading like Jellys Last Jam, which came to Long Wharf Theatre in August, took on new meaning in its celebration of jazz because we were able to partner with Dixwells Stetson Branch Library and experience the music through the lens of Dixwells jazz history.

Or The Crucible, the first show to ever be produced on our stage 57 years ago, will be performed next spring by a star-studded cast at the Lyman Center, creating a special evening to celebrate this full circle moment.

But this model doesnt have to be just for New Haven.

Theatres across the country need to consider who might be excluded or unrepresented in our current models. The pandemic gave us an opportunity to think about new ways of engaging our current audiences while also finding new communities to build relationships with.By forcing all of us to shutter our doors for months on end, leaving our spaces vacant without the revenue from ticket sales to help pay our rent or mortgages, we all went virtual, or set up shop outdoors in imaginative, unconventional venues to keep our communities safe.

And we learned that theatre doesnt have to be confined to a conventional stage with blazing lights and four walls. In fact, these new ways were exhilarating, providing artists with a more intentional, inventive way to produce work and audiences with even more ways to experience it more authentically.

Theatre is not just about a physical space. Its about the staff and artists; its about the people and connections; its about the memories and lessons. And maybe most importantly, its about celebrating our shared humanity through the stories we share.

Its about investing not just in a piece of real estate but in artistic innovation, radical inclusion, and kaleidoscopic partnerships.

Regional theatres across the country have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine what our responsibility to our regions is.

Lets usher in a new era for the American regional theatre together.

Kit Ingui is the managing director, and Jacob G. Padrn the artistic director, of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Ct.

Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. Please join us in this mission by making a donation to our publisher, Theatre Communications Group. When you support American Theatre magazine and TCG, you support a long legacy of quality nonprofit arts journalism. Clickhereto make your fully tax-deductible donation today!

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A More Intentional Era for American Regional Theatre - American Theatre

In the digital healthcare space, there can be so much information that it can be hard for patients to know what to trust. Better representing patients through diversity in healthcare education has been shown to help cut through that skepticism and improve health literacy.

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are some 80 million U.S. adults with low health literacy, and the U.S. Department of Educations Health Literacy Report found that 65% of those come from Black, Hispanic, or other underrepresented communities.

Simply providing health education to patients doesnt solve this issue of inequality of health literacy. Educational materials whether printed or multimedia need to be created with an intentional effort toward health diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Materials that reflect a broad range of patients and patient experiences including races/ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual orientations, family structures, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses have been shown to:

One simple way to think of DE&I is to use the metaphor of a party. With the patient as your potential party guest, each layer of intentional representation and involvement takes them further from outsider to warmly welcomed center of attention:

Think of this step as being invited to the party and seeing people you recognize already there. Some patients have never seen anyone who looks like them in healthcare educational resources. We can start by celebrating our patient populations differences and representing as broad and varied a sampling of them as possible.

Next, we have to make space for our guests to enjoy themselves however they wish at the party providing opportunities for people to dance, play games, and quiet space to talk, depending on their preferences. It isnt enough to have diverse representation in your content, you need to deliver that content effectively to all patients and consumers regardless of potential limitations to access they may encounter.

In the final phase, your guest has to be given a chance to express themselves; for example, selecting their own songs for the party playlist. Educational materials need to be personalized and actionable enough to be practical and actually used by patients.

As part of the design team behind Wolters Kluwers Emmi patient engagement solutions, Ive experienced first-hand the challenges of creating more diverse representation in patient-facing materials. Our EmmiEducate patient education offering features more than 8,000 leaflets and nearly 300 videos to help consumers understand anatomy, medications, procedures, and conditions. It would be impossible to customize that much material to precisely reflect the wide variety of experiences of all the patients and members who might use them.

The best answer we have found is to consciously work toward the broadest variety of experiences and perspectives so that the materials do not become repetitive visually and the storytelling is richer and more medically accurate.

The ways we do this include:

In order to create greater equity among patients, we always say we need to make healthcare education more accessible. That is a two-prong effort:

Modern healthcare education is largely delivered in digital formats, which creates a variety of ways to improve experiences and equity across patient populations:

The philosophy is not just to make content access better for those with varying abilities, but to simplify and improve the patient education experience for the entire patient population overall.

The same applies to how the content is designed to be consumed and understood. Following Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality guidelines helps serve as a roadmap to make complex clinical information clearer for patients and members. To improve health literacy, best practices include:

Patients and members tend to feel more empowered to take an active role in making their healthcare decisions when they feel engaged and included. Patient education can play a large role in helping them see themselves in the decision-making process by broadening inclusive representation. For example:

Patient depictions in artwork can be non-gender-specific when warranted by using silhouettes or partial figures. This would be appropriate when discussing cervical cancer. For example, instead of showing a womans figure, use a partial figure in order to be inclusive of transgender or non-binary audiences who are also affected by the disease.

Patient education often recommends exercise or movement. Depicting that as a young or fit person running around the block doesnt recognize the varying physical abilities of many patients. The materials should also offer tips and options of different levels of activity, so patients can self-select what they are comfortable with.

Healthcare educational materials should offer practical advice and be sensitive to the range of economic realities patients or members may face. For example, instead of simply instructing members to set up a telehealth appointment, materials might first remind them to connect to Wi-Fi to avoid data usage costs.

Ultimately the content within patient education needs to not only make people feel represented but give them clear actions they can take as the next steps in their health journey.

Learn more about EmmiEducatemultimedia patient education solution.

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Amplifying patient education through intentional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) - Wolters Kluwer